MAYOR: TRASH SHIPPING FIRM MUST TURN OVER DOCUMENTS

(Thurs., July 15, 2010)—Mayor Mufi Hannemann today announced that the company seeking to ship Honolulu’s garbage to a mainland disposal facility must present operational documents to the city by tomorrow or risk termination of its contract.

“We’ve been patient, trying to help and support them,” Hannemann said. “But this project has been fraught with problems from the get-go.”

The project has always been a high priority of City Council Chairman Todd Apo, and this administration has tried very hard to bring his council-approved initiative to fruition.

The city has requested documentation that the company, Hawaiian Waste Systems, has made proper arrangements to ship, unload and dispose of the waste it has accepted here since September 2009.

Hannemann said the city has indicated to the company that it would allow three more weeks for it to obtain necessary approvals from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provided the company presents the operational documents to the city by Friday, July 16.